Surgical appliance



May 18, 1925.,

M. LAN GWORTHY SURGICAL; APPLIANCE Filed April 11. 1925 .v m v 1.47 E N.N R V M m mmvw l 0 A an. Y why MB Fatented May 18, 1.926.

MITCHELL Lanewoa rnn or sroimnn, wnsnme'ron.

1 Application filed Anril 11, 1925.

YATES SURGICAL APPLIANCE.

- The present invention relates to improvements in surgical appliancesor equipment 1 for use in the treatment of fractures of the femur orthigh bone.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of mechan-. icalmeans of the caliper type whereby traction directly on the bone may suchfractures during the be applied for process of knitting, thus avoidingthe tendency toward deformity and shortening of the bone, insuring therequired exercise to prevent stiffness of the knee joint of atrophy ofthe and preventing possibility thigh and leg muscles.

By the'utilization of the appliance of my invention the patient may havemovement of the limb to secure the required exercise while the fractureis knitting instead of waiting until the fracture has knit the limb.

The appliance consists in ment having certain novel before exercising aportable equipfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangementsof parts whereby a traction device is insured that is simple inoperation and effective 1n of its required functions,

construction and the performance as will be herein-' after moreparticularly. set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment in the parts are accordance with far devised forof my invention wherecombined and arranged in the best mode I have thusthe practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is perspective pliance showing it in oper Figure 2 is aperspective view of the apative position.

view enlarged of the yoke employed beneath the knee joint.

Figure 3 is an enlarged in section showing the a rongs or rods.

The traction device is pull on the limb and is used in detail viewpartly dj ustable caliper employed to exert a conjunction with anexercising appliance that is manually operated by the patient for thepatient by operlimb. While reclining,

exercising the ating the exercising apparatus manually, imparts movementto the leg of the fracture,

and the weighted traction vention maintains the proper device of myinpull on the limb to hold the fractured portions of the bone in properposition.

The traction frame as illustrated in Figure 1 is suspended from an whichmay be supported the exerclsing apparatus,

elevated pulley 1 from the frame of not shown.

Serial No. 22,337.

issuer single chain 2 passes over this pulley and is bar are providedare connected a pair chains 7 and 8, the free ends of which arepermitted to fall naturally to posi tion, while selected links of, thechainmay be employed to connect with the hooks 5 and 6 for adjusting thelength of the workmg portion of the chains.

The chains are connected attheir ends to the respective eyes or loops 9and 10 fashioned integrally with a U-shaped yoke 11. This yoke is madeup of suitable material in its preferred U-shape and is designed to belocated beneath the knee joint, as indicated in Figure 1, while thepatient reclines. The looped ends of the yoke project in front of theknee joint and the chains, when in proper position are alined with theleg from the knee to the hip or thigh.

The yoke is fashioned with extension bars 12 and 13 projected from theeyes or loops and preferably at an angle to the body of the yoke. Theseparallel extension bars are equipped with complementary caliper pins 14%and 15 that project toward one another from their supporting extensionbars and are pointed for co-action in treatment of a fracture asindicated in Figure 1. The extension bars are located .at opposite sidesof the leg above the knee joint or at the knee joint and the caliperpins carried by the bars co-act at diametrically opposite sides of thebone as indicated to attach the appliance to the leg of the patient. Thecaliper pins are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thebone and upon lines converging in the direction of the pull of theweighted frame.

The caliper pins are laterally adjustable with relation to theirextension bars and are carried in angularly disposed transverse holes 16therein. The free ends of the extension bars are bored out and threadedto form sockets 17 to accommodate the set bolts 18 for clamping thecaliper pins in adjusted position. For convenience in manipulating thecaliper pins they are provided with transverse handle bars 19 near theirends.

weight 3.

the bar through The length of the chains 7 and 8 is adjustable to adaptthem to various conditions and the caliper pins are relativelyadjustable in the extension bars to adapt the pins for use withdifferent sizes of legs, and the whole appliance or traction frame,which is simple in construction, may with facility be uiekly adapted foruse and insure an eihcient performance of the required functions inassisting in the healing of the fracture and in co-action with theexercising apparatus employed as described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is I. The combination in a surgicalappliance with a suspended weighted frame, of a U-shape yoke flexiblyconnected therewith and formed with parallel extension bars, andcomplementary opposed caliper pins carried by said bars adapted to holda bone against traction.

2. The combination in a traction frame as described of a yoke looselyconnected therewith, and opposed complementary caliper pins carried bysaid yoke adapted to hold a bone against traction.

3. In a traction frame the combination therewith of a U-shape yokehaving parallel extension bars, complementary caliper pins carried bysaid bars adapted to hold a bone against traction, and means for holdingsaid pins in adjusted position in said bars.

In a traction frame the combination therewith of a U-shape yoke havingparallel extension bars and angularly disposed holes in said bars,complementary caliper pins carried by said bars adapted to hold a boneagainst traction, and clamp bolts in said bars for retaining said pinsin adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MITCHELL LANGIVORTHY.

